Winter sailing tips➜- Icebreaker needed? Some marinas situated in locked basins can have brackish water – and can freeze in cold weather! This
is Island Harbour marina on the Isle of Wight. Thin ice like this shouldn’t stop you going out and you won’t end up entombed like Shackleton’s but proceed with caution and have a boathook Endurance,
handy to break it up if necessary.
taking it home to dry it, rather than letting it fester and make the interior of the boat wet and mouldy.
- Lifejackets If your lifejacket gets wet while wearing it, open it up and dry out the innards when
you’ve tied up. Lifejackets don’t like staying
damp as the automatic firing tablets can start to dissolve and the cylinders to corrode, either of which could stop your jacket working when you most need it.- Airing cushionsWhen you leave the boat, with a
dehumidifier on or not, it’s best to leave the cushions propped up on
Take wet sails home to dry out properly their sides to allow the air to flow around them, preventing them getting damp or mildewy. (See ‘Taking the air’, Practical Projects, p87.)
Lifejacket cylinders will eventually corrode if a jacket is stored away wet
- Don’t go overboard!From October onwards, the water temperature around the UK begins to
plummet – and with it the amount of time you’ll be able to stay conscious in the water. Cold shock can affect your ability to breathe and swim, so lifejackets
are essential.21. Insurance
Most insurers will cover your boat to stay afloat all year, but you may need to find another mooring as swinging moorings and exposed berths are often not allowed.
Your insurer will be able to let you know.
Check your boat will still be insured on her mooring during the winter months – many swinging moorings are not covered Ben MeakinsBen Meakins